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Porter and Air Canada in dogfight over island airport

Porter Airlines and Air Canada are locked in a war of words as Toronto city council is set to vote as early as Tuesday on whether to approve a crucial study that could pave the way for jets to fly at Toronto’s island airport.

Porter president and CEO Robert Deluce sent off a lengthy letter on Monday to Mayor Rob Ford and city councilors, accusing Air Canada of trying to protect dominance in the Toronto market “by hobbling the development of a viable alternative to its hub at Pearson, to the detriment of the travelling public — the citizens of Toronto.” The letter comes in response to an unusual direct pitch, sent last Friday, by Air Canada’s vice-president Derek Vanstone, who urged the politicians to exercise caution when considering Porter’s expansion plans.

“The future of this public facility must be considered in light of what is best for Toronto, not what best drives one airline’s business strategy,” Vanstone wrote in that letter. “Porter is certainly allowed to pursue its commercial interests, but the onus on city council is larger.” Last month, Porter Airlines announced it has placed a conditional order for up to 30 Bombardier CS100 jets, which would expand the airline’s reach to cities across North America and into the Caribbean. Jet service would begin in 2016.

But, to accommodate Porter’s expansion plans, the island airport’s runway must be extended by 168 metres at each end into the lake to handle the bigger aircraft, and an existing rule that bans jets must be lifted.

The three parties — Ottawa, the Toronto Port Authority and the city — that signed the tripartite agreement governing island airport operations would need to sign off on any changes. Both the federal government and the port authority, which operates the airport, have said they want to hear from city council first.

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The mayor is supportive of Porter’s expansion plan and has moved a motion to expedite a study. Deputy city manager John Livey said in a supplementary report issued Monday that outside consultants would need to be hired for the study because city staff do not have expertise in this area.

The first phase of the study, which includes noise impacts, would cost about $275,000, up from the original $200,000 estimate, and Porter has agreed to foot the bill. The second phase could cost between $800,000 and $1 million, and it is unclear who would pay.

Deluce took issue with Air Canada’s argument that it would be an unprecedented move for authorities to exempt only the CS100 jet, as he has requested, and permit no other jets.

Bombardier’s new aircraft is still in final stages of production, and is due to have its first test flight by the end of June.

Deluce argued that the existing tri-partite agreement sets out an express exemption for Bombardier’s Dash 8 aircraft, which is better known as the Q400.

He also questioned Air Canada’s complaint over the slot allocation process at the Toronto island airport. Air Canada claimed that it unfairly benefits Porter Airlines, but Porter noted Air Canada has tried to challenge the process in courts but lost, attaching a copy of a judge’s decision with the letter.

Porter controls 172 out of 202 daily takeoff and landing slots, while Air Canada has 30.

Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said that his airline has always maintained the position that the island airport should be equally accessible to all carriers, so “any study should not be limited to expansion for only one aircraft type or airline, but instead take a broader view.”

He added that “nothing in Mr. Deluce’s letter answers this concern or explains why the city should forgo prudent planning principles in a rush to make a decision for the benefit of one private company.”

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